4 Ways to Save on Air Conditioning Costs this Summer
Because the heat of Southern California in the summer is virtually hot enough to melt a scoop of ice cream in the blink of an eye, it’s no wonder that residents crank up their air conditioners so much during the warmer months. Although air conditioning is important for our health, mood, and productivity, the higher bills that come along with its usage are certainly not anticipated.
If you’re hoping to have lower energy bills during the hotter months, you’ve come to the right place. Implementing the following four tips, you can benefit from paying less for your air conditioning in the coming months.
- Keep your curtains and blinds closed.
- Use a ceiling fan to help distribute cooled air.
- Add new weatherstripping to your doors and windows.
- Raise your thermostat when you aren’t home.
Did you know that light-colored curtains or blinds can reduce heat gain by approximately 45 percent? It’s true! Due to their ability to not only block out those hot sun rays but also reflect them away from your home due to their lighter color, you can achieve a cooler home, allowing you to raise your thermostat up a few notches no problem.
Although your ceiling fan doesn’t “make” cool air, it does help distribute the cooled air coming from your air conditioner. Just by improving the circulation of your home or building thanks to a ceiling fan, you may find that you can turn your thermostat up a few degrees and still have a comfortable temperature in your home. After all, air conditioners cost approximately $0.36 an hour to use while ceiling fans only cost about $0.01 per hour.
Don’t let your cooled air seep out of the cracks of doors and windows! You might as well throw away your hard-earned cash. To keep the cool air in and the hot air out, install new weatherstripping or add caulking to the doors and windows of your home. If you can place a piece of paper under a tightly closed window or door and pull it out without struggling, this means there’s an air leak that needs to be addressed.
By raising your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than normal for eight hours a day, you can save as much as 10 percent on your next energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This is especially true in regions where climates are milder. If you have difficulty remembering to raise your thermostat, consider switching your current thermostat out for a programmable thermostat.
Is It Time to Service Your Air Conditioner?
If you’ve taken the extra precautions to ensure you save on air conditioning costs this summer but are still having higher-than-usual costs this time of year, call us at 866-437-0205. There may be a chance that your unit’s efficiency is going down due to poor installation, old age, low refrigerant, failing parts, duck leaks, a dirty filter, or general lack of maintenance. Rely on us to help maintain or repair your air conditioning unit today!
